JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After rehabilitating at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo, "Jea" and "Son" returned home to Duval County waters this morning.

The two manatees, a mother (Jea) and her calf (Son) were released at the Bert Maxwell Boat Ramp off Broward Road near the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens at around 12 p.m. Staff from the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Hospital at Lowry Park Zoo, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, and the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens assisted in the release.

Jea and Son were found to be suffering from cold stress near the JEA power plant on February 13. The pair received their nicknames due to the location in which they were found (a JEA plant in Jack"son"ville). Both mother and son recovered well during their time in Tampa. Jea went from 740 pounds to 870 at her pre-release health assessment; Son grew from 203 pounds to 253 pounds.